First and foremost, I wish
each and every one a much happier, healthier and more prosperous 2017.
I’d just like to use this opportunity to share my
opinion on the state of play, as far as our collective destiny is concerned.
This will most certainly not be a lengthy piece, but will just touch on the
three most important aspects of our personal and national lives as we enter into
yet another uncertain year. However, amidst the uncertainties, a certain
pattern is emerging which should be of serious concern to all well-meaning
Nigerians. The three areas I alluded to earlier are: the economy, unemployment
and the much-vaunted war on corruption. I deliberately put them in that
order, as I believe that the focus of this government's actions need to reflect
their relative importance in that exact order.
The phrase "it’s the economy,
stupid", attributed to the quondam President of the United States, Bill
Clinton, has been oft-quoted. Considering the economy as the backdrop to any
meaningful development and progress is kindergarten stuff. We all know it. The
longanimity of Nigerians has been taken for granted, and ignored, for far too
long by those invested with the authority to bring about a positive change in
their fortunes. It was our largely collective belief that Buhari represented a
welcome departure from the abnormal norm that we put our hope in him to herald
in a new era of accountability and performance. The question most Nigerians now
ask is ‘was that hope chimerical?’ The answer to that question depends on who
you ask, but the consensus is, even among the staunchest of Buhari supporters
(of which I was one, no shame in that), Buhari has so far miserably failed to deliver on the
economy. Without a positive turnaround in the economy, other aspects of
national life suffer. The tohubohu within the economic team has wreaked havoc
on the already-suffering populace and there appears to be no respite in sight.
2016 was a complete miss; let’s hope 2017 fares better.
The big problem of
unemployment is no nearer resolving than that of the economy. How could it be
in any case? A sick economy bears no good fruit, and high unemployment is a
direct result of a good-for-nothing economy. With all the promises and various
initiatives aimed at the tens of millions of unemployed people, albeit with
admirable intentions, the problem of unemployment has got rather worse, not
better. This is not heaping the blame on the current administration, as the
problem is long-standing and rather complex, but workable solutions are not
impossible to device and implement. Of course it will take time for any
solution to even begin to scratch the surface of the problem, but the slowness
of the already-announced initiatives compound the problem rather than solve it.
Unemployment isn’t a problem to be politicized, as lives depend on its
resolution. Headline grabbers don’t help anyone, least of all those whose lives
and livelihoods are seriously impacted by it. The government’s scorecard on
this problem makes for a grim reading.
As far as the war on
corruption is concerned, it’s fair to say Buhari is fast losing credibility, if
he hasn’t already lost all. This so-called war on corruption is now so farcical
it’s beyond belief. If anything, Buhari was voted in on the promise of cleaning
up the system and ridding the administration of government affairs of unchecked
graft. One can only imagine how many cases are ongoing that are not mired in one
judicial logjam or the other. In all honesty, the war on corruption could now
better be described as a romcom! Serious probeable allegations inside the
Presidency itself have gone unprobed. Credible allegations against government
cabinet ministers have been swept under the carpet. You see, inconvenient
truths have to be said if one was to be an objective participant in this
democracy of ours. The EFCC Chairman is even under fire and no one knows
whether he’ll be in the post for much longer! For the life of me, I don’t know
where all this would lead. He who wants to lead such an important war, as that on
corruption, must demonstrate his intolerance of it regardless of who is
involved. Buhari has demonstrably failed in this singular regard, and in the
process, has lent credence to the claims of many that this is a phoney war, waged for political reasons. This is a sad indictment on Buhari’s sincerity of
purpose, and Nigerians are perplexed, and vexed, by it.
The above are views held by
many as of December 2016, but what turnaround there might be in 2017 depends on
the Buhari’s government's willingness and readiness to make corrections and the
necessary modifications relating to the issues that directly impact people’s
lives. 2017 is Buhari’s last chance salon, because 2018 will most certainly be
dominated by political jostling for 2019. So, to redeem himself and his
reputation, Buhari has to make seriously great inroads in 2017. History, and posterity, would
judge him by 2017. He should not betray the trust and goodwill of Nigerians.
Once again, Happy New Year to all, and God bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.
